Before entomologist Tracy Leskey and I spoke, I wondered, "What do you learn about when you research bugs?" I found out that work is about solving problems to keep healthy crops growing.
Tracy works for the the US Department of Agriculture as a researcher. She uses her expertise to understand invasive species and reduce their populations. Her goal: find creative, sustainable, and ecologically sound strategies to prevent destruction of crops so farmers can successfully grow crops like apples, corn, soybeans, and more. Tracy tells us about what inspired her growing up, and how solving real-life problems keeps her excited about entomology.
Tracy Leskey is an entomologist: a scientist who studies bugs. She's loved insects since she was a little girl with a Golden Book on monarch butterflies. Tracy combined her love of nature with a love of biology, and today is a researcher for the US Department of Agriculture. She works to protect food growers from invasive insects like the brown marmorated stink bug by finding sustainable, ecologically sound solutions.
